Cody vs. Orton set for SNME: Boring, We Have Better Options
The wrestling world was abuzz with the news this morning: The first match announced for WWE Sunday Night's Main Event is Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton.
My immediate reaction? Boring.
Don't get me wrong. I am one of the world’s biggest Cody Rhodes fan. I respect Randy Orton as one of the absolute GOATs. But we have seen this movie. This is a "seen it on RAW" match, not a "main event of a major network revival" match.
It feels like a placeholder, a retread of a feud that doesn't need to be re-heated right now. It doesn't serve Cody’s reign, and it doesn't feel like a special attraction.
So, how do we fix it? How do we take this announced "boring" match and turn it into the main event of the century? We don't cancel it. We escalate it.
Here is the five-match card that WWE must run to make SNME the most important show of the year, headlined by a brutal stipulation.
Six-Man Tag Team War Main Event: Cody Rhodes, CM Punk & Carmelo Hayes vs. Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens & Randy Orton
Instead of wasting Cody on a retread, we put him in the absolute center of the company's hottest story.
The Friction: The Undisputed Champion, Cody Rhodes, is forced to co-exist with his nemesis, CM Punk (who is desperate for the title). The wildcard is the cocky phenom, Carmelo Hayes, who is looking to prove he’s better than both legends.
The Heaters: Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, and Randy Orton are the ultimate gatekeepers. This is a newly formed, terrifyingly cohesive trio of brothers based on respect and shared enemies. Their singular mission is to prove that the Cody/Punk alliance is too fragile to survive against true brotherhood.
The Stakes: Every man in this ring has a claim to the Undisputed Title. A win here by any individual (or a clean pin by Hayes) immediately creates the next major title program for SummerSlam. This is not just a match; it’s a powder keg.
The Unfinished War: The MFTs (c) vs. War Raiders (WWE Tag Team Titles)
This is about returning to dominance. The MFTs (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) have been the smart, ruthless champions. Now they face the ultimate brute force.
The Story: The War Raiders (Ivar and Erik) have returned with a single-minded vengeance to destroy the tag team division they once ruled. They are too big, too strong, and too angry for the MFTs’ usual tricks.
This match inside an SNME environment is a pure war where the MFTs are forced to wrestle from underneath for the first time, using every desperate, high-risk tactic imaginable just to survive the monsters.
Battle of the Titans: Raquel Rodriguez (c) vs. Bayley (Women's IC Title)
The "Iron Woman" champion versus the all-time "Role Model" challenger.
The Story: Raquel Rodriguez has held the Women's Intercontinental Title hostage through sheer size, power, and an attitude that she is unbeatable. Bayley is the ultimate workhorse who knows she is the only one with the resume, the heart, and the strategy to stop this reign of terror.
This is a classic clash of styles—unmatched power vs. heart and ring generalship—in a match that will solidify the prestige of the new title.
The Defining Moment: Candice LeRae vs. Kiana James (Interim Women's Title #1 Contender)
With the Undisputed Champion injured, we need to establish the next major heel star. This match is not just for a spot; it’s to make a villain.
The Story: Candice LeRae is the perennial underdog fighting for one last moment of glory. Kiana James is the calculating, business-first machine who views this title as the next asset she must acquire.
The story of this match is James brutally exploiting an injury on LeRae (perhaps a previously taped rib or ankle) to pick up a cheap, yet effective, victory. James doesn't just win; she leaves LeRae a bloody mess and cuts a promo standing over her, declaring that the "B" in her name stands for "Brand New Champion.”
Pure Momentum: Chad Gable (c) vs. LA Knight (Intercontinental Title)
This is the singles match the world is dying to see, regardless of what is announced for the main event.
The Story: "Master" Chad Gable is the arrogant, technical genius who has elevated the IC Title to the most coveted position in the company. LA Knight (YEAH!) is the unstoppable charisma machine that the fans have willed to the top.
This is about Gable’s "perfect" grappling vs. Knight's electric momentum. Every near-fall will blow the roof off the arena. This is the match that steals the show and proves who the true "people's champion" is.
